Nozzle lining machine



1944- J. M. HOTHERSALL NOZZLE LINING' MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1940 INV & w 4 QT Rn ma ATToNE Ys Feb. 15, 1944. J. M. HOTHERSALL NOZZLE LINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOEN EYS 1944. J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,341,552

NOZZLE LINING MACHINE" Filed Dec. 2?, 1940 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 NOZZLE LINI NG MACHINE JohnM. Hotliersall. Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 26, 1940, Serial No. 371,697

4 Claims. (Cl. 113-40) The present invention relates to nozzle lining machines and the like and has particular refernce to applying a gasket of compound lining material to the nozzles of can ends having curled flanges and to arranging the lined ends in a stack of such a machine wherein the, can ends are turned over during their passage through the machine so that they may be in one required position for the flange curling operation and in a required inverted position for the lining operation.

Another object is the provision of a machine of this character wherein. can ends to be lined progress through the machine in a continuous procession, advancing in a step-by-step manner through various working stations which are combined to form a compact, efflcient and high speed apparatus.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accomg I drawings, discloses a preferred embodimen thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts removed; 7

' Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary enlargedsectional details illustrating the nozzle portion of a can end and a portion of a lining die in different positions incident to applying a gasket of compound lining material to the nomle;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. i, with parts broken away;

, Fig. 615 a vertical section taken substantially along the line 66 in Fig. 5, with parts broken aw y;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6, with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine, the view showing the side opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the broken line 9-9 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line iii-i0 in Fig. 4, with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate principal parts of a sheet metal can end flange curling machine which includes mechanism for inverting the can ends and for lining the nozzles and for arranging the lined can ends into a stack. Such a machine is adapted to operate on rectangular shaped, rounded corner can ends A of the character used in oil cans and the like which are fitted with dispensing spouts. The spouts are secured to nozzles B (see Figs. 2, 3,5 and 6) the latter preferably being formed as an integral part of the can ends. These nozzles are formed with a flat seat C which is adapted to receive the spout and which is adapted to be provided with a gasket D to produce a hermetic jointbetween the spout and the nozzle seat. a

In the machine, peripheral flanges E on the can ends A are first bent inwardly to form a curled edge 'or flange F which is subsequently utilized insecuring the can end to a can body in a suitable seam to produce the finished container. For best results the can end A is preferably positioned with its nozzle extending upwardly as shown in Fig, 4, during this flange curling operation.

Application of the gasket D to the nozzle B is preferably efiected when the can end is in an inverted position so that the nozzle extends down. Hence following the flange curling operation the can end A is inverted to bring the nozzle to the desired position and immediately following this a fluid compound lining material is applied to the nozzle seat C to form the gasket D. Just after this compound lining step the can end A is lifted vertically into a stack where it takes its place with the previously lined can ends ready for drying. When the lined can ends have been built-up into a stack of suflicient height, the

.entire stack may be manually removed to suitable place of deposit for drying.

The can ends A upon entering the machine are advanced along a straight path of travel in a step-by-step or intermittent, manner between a pair of spaced and parallel guide rails II (Figs. 1, 4 and The guide rails are secured to a pair of spaced and parallel runway bars I2. on which the can ends are supported. These runway bars extend longitudinally of the machine and are bolted to the top of a table It formed as an integralpart of a frame I4 which constitutes the main frame of the machine.

Advancement of the can ends A along the runway bars I2 and the guide rails I I is preferably eflected by spring held dogs is which are carried at spaced intervals in a reciprocating feed bar II. The feed bar is supported on the top of the table I3 and is disposed between the runway bars I2 in slideway grooves I8 formed in the bars. The runway bars thus serve as gibs for the feed bar.

Reciprocation of the feed bar I! through a forward or advancing stroke and backward through a return stroke is preferably brought about by a segment bear 2I which meshes with rack teeth 22 formed in the bottom of the feed bar. The rack teeth extend down'b'elpw the feed bar and operate in a clearance groove. iormedin the table It while the segment gear operates in a clearance slot 24 also formed in the table. The'segment gear 2| is part of a lever 26 which is mounted on a pivot pin 21 carried in the main frame It. This lever is actuated or oscillated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

On a forward stroke of the feed bar II a can end A is advanced along the runway barsv I2 and is deposited on top of a lifter 3| disposed at.a curling station K (Figs. 1, 4, 10) The bottom of the litter is provided with a vertical stem 35 which is carried in a bearing 36 in the bottom of the boss 81. This stem extends down below its bearing and is raised and lowered in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine. An elongated slot 38 in the lifter provides clearance for the feed bar I1.

When a can end A is. received on the lifter 3| it is raised vertically by the lifter into a rotating curling head generally indicated by the numeral 4|. This'head is preferably enclosed in and supported by a hood 42 which is secured to an updogs on the reciprocating feed bar II, by means of friction exerted against the ends in the runway as they are being intermittently advanced by the dogs between the guide rails II. Spring held guide plates or can end retaining bars are employed for this purpose adjacent the runway, for example as shown at I55, I56 in the patent to Butler 2,085,001, issued June 29, 1937. for 9. Flange curling machine. Since such spring held guide elements are well known in the art and are not specifically claimed in the instant application, they have not been illustrated in detail.

on succeeding forward strokes of the feed bar II the curled can end is advanced through a plurality oi idle stations and is then introduced into a turn-over or inverting station L (Figs/1, 4 and 9). At this station the feed bar inserts the can end A into a rotatable turn-over wheel or cylin-- der 55. The cylinder is carried in a bearing 54 formed in an end wall 51 of a fluid lining compound tank 58. The tank is formed as a part of a bracket 59 which is bolted to an end wall of the machine frame I4.

The inserted can end A is located in an elongated opening 6| of the turn-over cylinder and its longitudinal curled flanges F are disposed in a pair of spaced and parallel holding grooves 42,

y 53. Groove 52 is formed in the cylinder wall right support web 43 formed integrally with the main frame I4. The head is continuously rotated in any suitable manner and is provided with a stationary chuck 45 and a plurality of curling rollers 46. The rollers rotate with the head. This is a usual curling head construction.

Thus when the can end A is lifted into the curling head 4I it is forced into engagement with the chuck l5 and it is thus held stationary. While the can end is so held, the curling rollers move in against its flange E and rotate around the can end. It is this rolling action that forms the curl or flange F.

During this can end flange curling operation the feed bar I1 moves back through a return stroke andbrings an advanced feed dog I6 into position adjacent the lifter 3|. Following the curling operation the lifter descends and returns the curled can end to its original position level with the runway bars I2. The feed bar thereupon moves through a forward stroke and the feed dog I6 engages against the can end and advances it one step along its path of travel. This advancement of the curled can end removes it from the lifter 3| and shifts it onto a pair of continuing runway bars 5| which carry continuin guide rails 52. These runway-bars are secured to the table I3. The can ends A are prevented from retrograde movement with the spring held adjacent the opening 8| and is located in the middle of the cylinder. Groove 63 is formed in a rectangular spring barrel 65 disposed in a recess 66 formed in the-cylinder wall diametrically opposite the groove 62. The barrel is backed up by a compression spring 61 which is held in place by a screw 68. The spring presses the barrel against a can end received in the turn-over cylinder and thus frictionally holds it in place. I

When a can end is received in the turn-over cylinder and after the feed bar I! has moved rearwardly on a return stroke the cylinder is rotated through one-half a revolution and the can end retained therein is'thus turned over into an inverted position with its nozzle extending downwardly as shown in Fig. 3. Rotation of the cylinder through this half revolution is brought about by gear teeth H which are formed on the entrance end of the cylinder. The gear teeth mesh with a vertical rack 12 which slides in a. bearing I3 formed on the tank 58.

The lower end of the rack 12 is pivotally connected to the outer end of a cam arm" which is mounted on a pivot pin 16 carried in a ho ll formed on the bracket 59. Intermediate its nds,

in a cam groove 19 formed in the inner face 01' a rotary cam"8l. The cam is mounted on a cam shaft 82 which is journaledin a long bearing 55 formed in the bracket 59. The shaft is rotated by a gear 84 which is mounted on one end thereof. This gear meshes with a pinion 85 mounted on one end of a. driving shaft 86 journaled in a long bearing 81 formed in the bracket 59. The opposite end of the driving shaft carries a sprocket 88which is driven by a chain 89. The chain may be dfiven in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

Since the center of the turn-over cylinder 55 is in alignment with the feed line or the path of travel of the can ends moving through the mathe inverted can end out and advances it into the next station. This is a nozzle lining. and stacking station M (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7).

At the nozzle lining and stacking station M the inverted can end A is received in a pair of oppositely disposed holding fingers 92 having formed on the bottom ends of a pair of stack- 10 ms slides 96. Each slide is located on a side ofthe received can end A. These slides are disposed in slideways 91 formed in slide brackets 98 secured to a base plate 99 which extends across the top of the compound tank 58 and is bolted thereto.

The upper ends of the holding fingers .92 are backed up by spring barrels ml which are disposed in bores I92 formed in the slides 96. These spring barrels force the fingers inwardly against the can end to hold it in place. The lower ends of the fingers are formed with stop lugs I03 which engage against an inclined surface I04 on each slide and thus limit the inward movement of the fingers when no can end is held by them.

The inverted can end A thus held in place by p the holding fingers 92 is located directly above the compound lining tank 58 in an opening I05 in the base plate 99 and below and in vertical an alignment with a lined can end magazine I91 which is defined by a pair of right angle vertical stack retaining rails I08. These rails are formed as a part of the stacking slide brackets 98. It

is while the can end is in this position that its inverted nozzle B receives the compound gasket D hereinbefore mentioned.

-Application of the gasket D is effected by a hollow conical die head III which is disposed in vertical alignment with and below the inverted nozzle B of the held can end. The die head is formed with a flat lining seat II2 and this head is normally disposed in a bath of fluid lining compound H3 contained in. thetank 58.

The die head MI is preferably formed on an L.

shaped arm II5 which extends upwardly out of the tank and is secured to a bracket a'rm II6 This slide is carried in. a slideway II8 nected by a link IZI to one end of a lever I22 mounted on a pivot pin I23 secured in 2. lug I24 which extends up from the side wall of the tank. The opposite end of the lever is connected by a link I25 carried on a pivot pin IZ'I secured in the driving sprocket 88 in an off-center position. The pin I21 thus serves as a crank.

Hence as the sprocket 88 rotates, it rocks the link I26 and lever I22 and thus moves the slide 0 .IIlthrough an upward-or operating stroke and thence downwardly through a return stroke. 0n the upward stroke of the slide, it lifts the die head II I out of the compound lining material in the tank 59 and carriesjit up toward the positioned nozzle B. The die head .thus carrie up with it on its seat II2 (Fig. 2) a; film of material which is a predetermined quantity of the compound.

Any compound which is on the conical portion 7 of the die head drains off onto the seat H2. To facilitate this drainage a plurality of holes I28 are formed in the die head and these holes permit the compound to flow into a communicating mentioned. For effecting proper I I5. This passage-way is open at its bottom end and thereby permits the compound to return to the tank. In practice substantially only'the seat II2 of the die head carries the compound up out of the tank.

At the top of the upward stroke of the die head I. its compound laden seat II2 engages with the fiat seat C of the can end nozzle B and the compound carried by the die head is thereby transferred to the nozzle seat. It is this applied compound that constitutes the gasket D.

After the compound is applied to the nozzle' B the die head II I returns to its lowered original position within the tank 58 beneath the level of the fluid lining compound therein, in readiness for lining the next can end in the procession.

During this descent of the die head the gasket lined can end A is lifted vertically into the magazine I01. This lifting of the can end is brought about by the stacking slides 96 hereinbefore slide movement each stacking slide is connected by a link I3I to the outer end of an operating arm I32.

There are two of these operating arms I32 (Figs. 1 and 5) and they are secured to a cross shaft I33 carried in bearings I34 formed on the slide brackets 98. One of the arms is formed with a depending lever arm I36 (see also Fig. 4)

which at its lower end carries a'cam roller I31;

The cam roller operates in a cam groove I38 formed in the outer face of the gear 84.

Hence as the gear 84 rotates it rocks the operating arms I32 at the proper time and thus shifts the stacking slides 95 in unison through an upward or stacking stroke and thence downward on a return stroke to their original position. On the upward stroke of the slides, the holding fingers 92 are lifted and the lined can end A held by them. The slides carry the can end up past a plurality of yieldable stack supporting fingers I4I which snap back after allowing the can ends to pass and then hold them in the magazine It".

There are four of the stack supporting fingers I4I two being located at the two sides of each oppositely disposed holding finger 92. Each of the supporting fingers is mounted on a pivot pin I42 (Figs. 5 and 7) which is secured in a lug I43 formed on the base plate 99. v The upper end of the fingers 92 extend into the bottom of the magazine and normally project out into the magazine where they engage under and support the can I ends as they are being stacked in the magazine.

Adjacent its pivot pin I42 each supporting finger MI is formed with an outwardly projecting horizontal 111g I45 which extends into a recess I46 in the base plate and engages against the base plate. This portion of the base plate thus serves as a stop to hold the supporting fingers I in proper position. The lugs are held against the base plate by flat springs I47 each having one end engaging the lug of its adjacent finger and having its opposite end secured to the base plate. It is these springs that yield and permit the supporting fingers to shift inwardly as a can end A passes by under the lifting action of the stacking slides 96 and holding fingers 92 thereon carrying the can end up into the magazine.

The rising stacking slides 96 thus lift the newly lined can end A just above the top edges of the supporting fingers 'IM and the latter snap back to a holding position under th can end. The stacking slides then move down on their return stroke and bring the holding fingers 92 back into passage-way I29 formed in the L shaped arm alignment with the feed line of the can ends and they will then be in position for the next advancing can end. As the stacking slides move down, the can end A comes into engagement with the top edges of the supporting fingers l4|- and further downward travel is thereby arrested. This arresting of the can end movement strips it out of the holding fingers 92 against the resistance of their spring barrels iill and thus the can end is left in the magazine resting on the supporting fingers.

In this manner each can end A after its nozzle B receives a gasket D, is lifted into position in the magazine Ill! and this action builds up a vertical stack of such can ends. Each time a newly lined can end is lifted, it engages the bottom end in the stack and raises the entire'stack, the newly received and lined can end thus taking its place at the bottom of the stack. The stack is held in stack'form by the retaining rails I08 and when sufiicient ends have been brought into the magazine, the stack may be manually removed to any suitable place of deposit for drying of the gaskets D.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it-will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A can end nozzle lining machine, comprising in combination a tank containing a bath of fluid compound lining material, a vertically movable die head disposed in the lining material in said tank, holding instrumentalities disposed above said tank for holding in a predetermined position an inverted can end having a nozzle with the nozzle in vertical alignment with said die head, a magazine disposed above and in vertical alignment with said holding instrumentalities, means for elevating said die head into direct engagement with the under surface of the can end nozzle to carry up a quantity of the lining material from the tank and to deposit it in the nozzle to provide a gasket of predetermined configuration therein, and devices operating in time with the movement of said die head for elevating the can end vertically from said holding instrumentalities after said can end has received its gasket, said elevating devices depositing the lined can end in said magazine.

2. A can end nozzle lining machine, comprising in combination a vertical magazine for retaining lined can ends in stacked position, holding instrumentalities below said magazine and in vertical alignment therewith for holding an un. lined can end having an attached nozzle so that it is in a predetermined inverted position relative to said magazine, a vertically movable die head disposed below the held unlined can end for applying a gasket of fluid compound lining material to said nozzle, and devices operating in time with said die head for lifting the can end vertically -into the magazine after it has received its gasket.

predetermined position and is in alignment withsaid magazine, a vertically movable die head disposed in a bath of fiuid compound lining material located belowthe positioned unlined can end forcarrying up a predetermined quantity of the lining material and for depositing it in the nozzle of the can end; means operating in time with said die head for shifting said slide devices to rise the newly lined can end into the magazine just after it has-received its gasket, and yieldable supporting fingers insaid magazine for stripping the raised can end from the holding fingers and for supporting it at the bottom of a stack of previously stacked lined can ends in the magazine.

4. A can end nozzle lining machine comprising feeding devices for advancing can ends having nozzles thereon with the nozzles disposed in upright feeding position, a turn-over device disposed in the path of the can ends for receiving a said can end in its upright position as advanced by said feeding devices and for turning the can end over into an inverted position, holding instrumentalities located adjacent said turn-over device for receiving and holding the inverted can end, a vertically movable die head disposed below the held inverted can end for applying a gasket of fluid compound lining material to said nozzle, a magazine located above and in vertical alignment with said die head for retaining lined can ends in stacked position, and devices operating in time with said die head and said turn-over device for lifting the can end vertically from said holding instrumentalities into the magazine after it has received its gasket lining.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

